Page 150 of God of War (Legacy of Gods)

A muscle moves in his jaw as he takes a sip of his drink and then sets it down. For some reason, what I said seems to dampen the mood of this dinner. A dinner I wasn’t vibing with in the first place due to his lack of participation.

So we go to the theater and watchMoulin Rouge!. As I clap and dance and sing at the end, Eli is entirely unimpressed by the whole debacle.

“That was so much fun!” I shout and wave at the girl who was vibing with me during the show as Eli and I exit in the red glow of Piccadilly Theatre. The music continues blaring and I sway, even when his grip stops me.

“Only if a hindrance is called fun.” He places a large palm at the small of my back and expertly leads me through the crowd in a way that no one touches me.

“You’re such a grinch.” I place my index and middle fingers at the corners of his mouth and pull up. “Smile a little. You’d look so much hotter.”

As I drop my hand, he raises a brow. “You find me hot?”

“Everyone does. At least seven girls were flirting with you earlier at the bar.”

“You were counting?”

“Unintentionally.”

His lips twitch in a small smile as he strokes my hip. A shiver rushes through me and I grow pliant in his hold. It isn’t fair that he’s the best embrace I’ve ever had.

How come a monster feels so safe?

“Will you ever tell me why you married me?” I whisper.

“I told you. I need the camouflage of a stable family.”

“You could’ve gotten that with any other girl. Why me?”

“Because it’s you,” he says in a cryptic tone that leaves a knot at the bottom of my stomach.

I try to ask for more clarification, but we’ve already reached the car.

Eli spends the whole trip looking through his phone and talking about finances with Henderson. I swear the man breathes for money and he’s ridiculously talented at making it.

Though it’s probably not money he’s after. It’s power.

By the time we reach the house, I feel a crushing sense of depression. Maybe because a nice night out with no quarrels is over and we’ll probably not have anything similar again.

I stop at the top of the stairs, where we’ll part ways to go to our respective rooms, and glance at him. He’s standing there, jacket in hand, and the first two buttons of his shirt are undone, revealing chiseled muscles.

Clearing my throat, I attempt a small smile. “Thanks for tonight, I had a lovely time.”

He nods once, his fingers tightened around the banister as if he’s stopping himself from doing something.

“I…um, night,” I mumble like an idiot, then try to walk with dignity and not run to my room. Or, worse, steal a glimpse at my husband, whose emotional temperament rivals the Alps.

Once I’m inside, I throw my bag on the chair and stop by the bed, feeling a chill covering my skin all of a sudden.

Why does it feel big and empty in here?

Maybe I should make sure Sam left some food for Eli? It’s late, so I can heat it up. She won’t come at me for that, and I doubt I’ll burn a microwave.

At least, I hope I don’t.

It’s just charity. Mum taught me to be a giver for those less fortunate than me. Eli’s been fasting the whole day, so I’m doing him a favor.

I’ve just taken a step when the door bangs open and Eli is standing there, sans jacket, nostrils flaring, and eyes a vortex of desire.

The temperature shoots up instantly and I swallow. “I…I was going to heat you some dinner.”

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